Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring Varun Kainth & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia
Recommendation: See it if you’re okay with 2-person shows with mostly dialogue.
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Two guards at the Taj Mahal grapple with enforcing the barbaric oppressive edicts of their authoritarian autocratic regime. In the end, they face the ultimate dilemma.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal—an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concepts of friendship, beauty, and duty, and changes them forever. GUARDS AT THE TAJ is one of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s seminal works.
Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 9/14/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. This show closes on 10/6/24!
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Few
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few
Static (Stationary) Set? Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with Indian history. I was not and I kept wondering “Holy crap, did these historical events really happen?!”
Defined Plot/Storyline: It was more dialogue than story.
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 2
Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium
Was there an intermission? No
Length (Including Any Intermission): Less than 90 minutes
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No
Mainstream Appeal: Low to medium
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Traditional Live Music: Sampada Bhalerao played the sitar while Jayant Bhopatkar played the tabla before the show and during the show. They also added some mild sound effects as well during the play.
Theatre Company: ArtsWest and Pratidhwani
Venue: ArtsWest
Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Price Range: $46
Dates: September 12 to October 6, 2024
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.
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@showsiveseen Selina Fillinger's "#POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are 7 #Women Trying to Keep Him Alive" #comedy#play at @acttheatre. Smartly written, engaging, and sharp dialogue. Absolutely likeable characters. Lots of laughs & reactions from the audience. I'd like to imagine the 45th #president's staff was like this. Review: showsiveseen.com/9746 Director: Jillian Armenante Stage Manager: Jamie J. Kranz #showsiveseen#theatre#presidency♬ Vote or Die – Anthony Kapfer
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Selina Fillinger’s POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are 7 Women Trying to Keep Him Alive comedy play at ACT Theatre. Engaging, smartly written, sharp, vulgar dialogue. Absolutely likeable characters. Lots of laughs & reactions from the audience. I’d like to imagine the 45th president’s staff was like this.
Recommendation: See it, especially if you enjoy political presidential TV shows like Veep, Scandal, or Commander in Chief.
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Hijinks ensue as 7 women struggle to prevent presidential scandals.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: The comedic sensation comes to Seattle and delivers a riotous punch as it unveils the story of seven extraordinary women tasked with managing the antics of the most powerful man in the world. From PR nightmares to global crises, these brilliant and VERY different women navigate a maze of chaos, risking everything to uphold sanity and stability in the White House. Fueled by Selina Fillinger’s sharp wit and biting satire, this Tony-nominated play offers an unforgettable tribute to the unsung heroes behind the political curtain.
Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 9/12/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Show closes on 9/29/24!
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple locations around the White House
Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be remotely familiar with USA politics
Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes with slightly heavier emphasis on dialogue
Equity Actors: 6
Total Number of Actors: 7
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good
Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Good Hook: The play started with Harriet (played by Anne Allgood) exclaiming “Cunt!” That sure grabbed the audience’s attention! Strangely, “cunt” and “cunty” have become more mainstream curse words in the past decade’s zeitgeist. Ironically, I feel like this is due to more female empowerment. Maybe it’s like how the LGBT community reclaimed the word “queer.” Pretty soon, “cunt” will be as popular as “dick.” Now that’s shattering the glass ceiling! 😛
Dusty: Dusty (played by Carly Corey) reminded me of the endearing Elle Woods sorority president from Legally Blonde.
Technical Difficulty Diversion: Towards the end of the play, the stage rising mechanism failed. Oh, the magic of live theatre! Usually, the audience just sits there quietly, but people started yelling out things like “How’ve y’all been?” “How about that debate?” and “They’re eating dogs and cats!” Eventually, the director (Jillian Armenante) walked on-stage and lead an impromptu Q&A like JoJo Siwa. I actually thought it was part of the show at first! In the end, the technical crew finally fixed the malfunction and Jillian jumped around the fixed stage then purposely magnificently collapsed at the center to make sure the platform would support the actors adequately. I enjoyed her impromptu diversion more than the the alternative of sitting around doing nothing while waiting for the fix. However, repeatedly asking the technical crew, “Have you fixed it yet?” was like a kid asking, “Are we there yet?” It won’t speed things up!
Rant(s)
Off-stage Character: There was an odd moment in the play when Chris, the reporter and working mother played by Ayo Tushinde, delivered a lengthy tirade directed at a younger upstart male coworker who was off-stage. This interaction felt out of place because it was the only instance when a character spoke to someone in front of them who wasn’t physically present on stage. Additionally, the script expected the audience to fill in the blanks for the man’s response. The fact that he wasn’t even a significant character made the scene weirder. The dialogue would have been better as a phone call and not a face-to-face (or “face-to-nothing?”) confrontation.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Secretary: At first, Stephanie (the presidential secretary played by Annette Toutonghi) was my favorite character. Her overtly timid demeanor valiantly trying to become more assertive was amusing. However, her character’s development descended into a gratuitous spectacle for cheap slapstick laughs.
Script Progression: Similarly, the script initially featured incisive, engaging dialogue that captivated the audience with its crude wit. However, the play devolved into chaotic scenes aimed at eliciting cheap laughs. While the first act maintained a sense of plausibility and vibrant comedy, the second act became implausible cacophony. Where was the Secret Service and video surveillance?!
Theatre Company: ACT Theatre
Venue: The Gregory A. Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 700 Union St, Seattle, WA 98101
Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. If I don’t walk to this theatre, I park in the old convention center garage with the entrance between Seneca and Pike. There is indoor access from the garage to the theatre if you walk through the old convention center.
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Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.
Josephine Keefe and Anne Allgood. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Anne Allgood and Carly Corey. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Ayo Tushinde and Josephine Keefe. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Carly Corey, Anne Allgood, Gin Hammond, Cassi Q Kohl, Annette Toutonghi, and Ayo Tushinde. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Cassi Q Kohl and Ayo Tushinde. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Josephine Keefe, Cassi Q Kohl, and Carly Corey. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Gin Hammond, Annette Toutonghi, and Anne Allgood. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.
Happy opening weekend to Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play (including live sitar/tabla music) at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Catch the show until 10/6. Stay tuned for my full review! #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia
Congrats to Village Theatre for opening night of their Camelot musical production. Catch the show until 10/13 at Issaquah & 11/10 at Everett. Stay tuned for my full review! #kingArthur #lancelot #Guinevere #excalibur #loveTriangle
Congrats to ACT Theatre on the opening night of Selina Fillinger’s POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive play. Catch the show through 9/29 and stay tuned for my full review! #president #presidency #women #comedy
